Roman Polanski

[lunabee34]

I really didn't know very much about the man until this week. I knew he had exiled himself from America to avoid going to jail for criminal charges, but I didn't know what the charges were or anything about his life. In my twenties, I watched several of his movies and enjoyed them, most notably The Ninth Gate.

Since posts about the petition to exonerate him of charges started circulating on the flist, I've done some research about Roman Polanski, and I have this to say about the controversy:

A THIRTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL PERSON CAN NEVER, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CONSENT TO ANY SORT OF SEXUAL ACTIVITY WITH A FORTY-FOUR YEAR OLD MAN PERSON. EVER. EVER. THAT IS ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS RAPE, AND IT IS ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS WRONG.

I suppose we are to assume that the celebrities that signed that petition won't mind if Roman Polanski rapes their children. He's so awesome, after all.

Edited to more accurately reflect my position.

Comments

[ariadne83]

Ugh. The people supporting him drive me *insane*. He is a rapist *and* he is a director; the latter does not negate the former.

[lunabee34.livejournal.com]

I know!

I truly cannot wrap my head around the whole thing. It makes no sense to me.

[ariadne83]

Oh, it makes sense to me; if you read their comments, pretty much all of them haven't read the transcripts, or made up their minds about the case before they read them. And they buy into the whole thing about the seventies being much more sexually-liberated, as if that's automatically a good thing rather than just a distancing tactic so they don't have to face, y'know, reality.

And there's a generous helping of denial. I know how that is; I have a sort-of friend who served a prison sentence for murder when he was in his twenties (he's in his forties now), and when I first found out six years ago it was very difficult to reconcile the person I know with the person he was. My gut reaction at the time was to say "Well, I don't really know if he's guilty or not, but that was then and this is now." I didn't want to find out the details of the case; I just wanted to live in a bubble where I could deal with *only* what I already knew, the person I'd gotten to know. I got past that "bury your head in the sand" response, but it was hard work. And it's still very difficult to hold the two sides of him in my head - the brilliant Latin student and the murderer.

Of course, again, that is a different situation because my friend served his time.

[lunabee34.livejournal.com]

*nods*

That makes sense.

And let's not forget that he's a gifted director who made iconic movies, movies that in some cases *made* actors' careers. Kinda hard to want the gift horse behind bars, I'd imagine.

And then there's also those people who believe that children *trick* adults into having sex with them and the adult just can't be held responsible for being seduced. *shudders* A child can look and dress older than her age, but I have yet to meet a 13 year old who I couldn't peg as a kid. I might have estimated his or her age a few years older, but still, totally a kiddo. Not to mention, RP was acquainted with the victim and her mother. He didn't meet her at a bar or somewhere. He *knew*.

[spikedluv]

I didn't know anything about this, either, but I think it's absurd that ANYONE could possibly think that having sex with a 13 year old child is okay. I don't care who this guy is, and neither should they. I'm ashamed of them. I haven't seen the petition, so I don't know who all are supporting him, but I think I might throw up if I see it.

[lunabee34.livejournal.com]

You totally, totally, totally would throw up. A lot.

[tabaqui]

EXACTLY.

Gods teeth. It makes me ill.

[lunabee34.livejournal.com]

I know.

I was going to look up some of the actors and directors who signed that petition to see if they had kids around that age, but it was irritating to look up because you had to dig through posts, but I guarantee you some of those people have children. Do they possess no powers of extrapolation?

Ugh.

[kaydee23.livejournal.com]

Maybe they would let him rape their child if it got them a starring role in Roman Polanski's next movie. It's totally disgusting that they're supporting him. Could you send me a link to one of the petitions so I can see whose movies I will start boycotting?

Thanks!

[lunabee34.livejournal.com]

List of petitioners in an lj post which I find easier to read (http://community.livejournal.com/ohnotheydidnt/39618660.html)

Original Petition (http://www.sacd.fr/Le-cinema-soutient-Roman-Polanski-Petition-for-Roman-Polanski.1340.0.html)

the people who don't support Polanski, thank God (http://chrismm.dreamwidth.org/577422.html)

[droolfangrrl.livejournal.com]

He gave a 13 year old girl, who was saying no, qualuuds and booze and then had sex with her.

I don't care if he brought about world peace, cured cancer and solved global warming. He did something wrong.

[lunabee34.livejournal.com]

*nods*

One does not mitigate the other.

[kyuuketsukirui.livejournal.com]

I really don't think her age is even that relevant. Whether or not a thirteen-year-old can consent to sex is not the point. The point is that she did not. In fact, she said no multiple times, and he still forced himself on her. Multiple times. Also he drugged her. This would be rape even if she were an adult.

[lunabee34.livejournal.com]

*nods*

You are absolutely right. Good points.

I think I am fixated on the victim's age because even though society makes up bullshit blame the victim excuses for rapists all the time, they usually don't do so when the victims are young children. And I know that some of the people who signed that petition have children near the same age which makes me WTF even more.

But you are very right that what he did is wrong for a person of any age.

[alixtii.livejournal.com]

IAWTC.

My thoughts on statutory rape are complicated. But this case is not.

[lunabee34.livejournal.com]

I don't know what IAWTC means. :)

[alixtii.livejournal.com]

"I agree with this comment."

[lunabee34.livejournal.com]

Thanks. My internet acronymage is subpar at best.